Real Madrid: Mbappé’s Injury Raises Major Concerns

The recent narrow defeat of Real Madrid against Manchester City has unveiled a glaring issue: the team, under Xabi Alonso, is severely lacking in efficiency and precision in the final third without their star striker, Kylian Mbappé. The absence of Mbappé was palpably felt as Vinícius Júnior and Jude Bellingham struggled with their finishing, ultimately failing to convert opportunities against Gianluigi Donnarumma. This inadequacy left Madrid unable to claw back into the match during the second half.

Despite the hope surrounding Mbappé’s potential involvement, it became clear before kick-off that he would not play due to a knee injury. Reports suggest that his absence was premeditated, with Alonso opting not to warm him up as a strategic decision. The speculation surrounding his selection had been described as a smokescreen intended to mislead Manchester City. Both Alonso and Mbappé were aware that the French forward would not be taking the pitch, as he has been dealing with persistent discomfort since the first half of the previous match against Celta Vigo.

Alonso’s Cautious Approach

In his post-match comments, Xabi Alonso expressed uncertainty about Mbappé’s recovery timeline. He stated, “It is still too early to know if he will be ready for Sunday,” referring to the upcoming clash against Deportivo Alavés. The decision to sideline him was heavily influenced by medical assessments that unanimously deemed playing against City too risky. This precautionary measure emphasizes the seriousness of Mbappé’s condition and raises alarms about his fitness for future fixtures.

Implications for Upcoming Matches

The implications of Mbappé’s injury extend beyond just one match; he may also miss critical upcoming games in Copa del Rey against Talavera and La Liga against Sevilla FC before the winter break. Currently sitting at 55 goals for the calendar year, he faces an uphill battle to reach Cristiano Ronaldo’s remarkable record of 69 goals set in 2013. The prospect of missing several matches could significantly hinder his chances of achieving this milestone.

As concerns grow within the corridors of Valdebebas regarding Mbappé’s fitness, fans are left wondering how long they will have to wait for their talismanic forward to return. Will he be fit enough to make a comeback soon, or is his season already at risk? Only time will tell.